In term of bikes on display, there were some notable absence in big brands as mentioned previously. But nevertheless some worthwhile hardware to check out:

Giant '12 display including Ultegra Di2Look rangeScott FoilFocus range including a 5.3kg IzalcoGarmin powermeter pedalplaying around with the different SRAM gearsetssome German brands like Stevens and Ghost

In term of picking up bargains: there wasn't much tho I did pick up a Campy cap and Look Keo 2 pedals for a good price!

So overall worthwhile going but hoping to see bigger and better next year!

Anyone from a bike shop attend? Please drop me a line - or I will call you - [email protected]

I have some great exhibitor feedback and am after a retailer (visitor) feedback so complete an article on the show for BNA.If you wish, as a Local Bike Shop I will give you a mention and a link in the article.

I went on Saturday and have to say I wasn't really that impressed. I have been before and expected a bit more. I went around 2pm and it was very quiet. Hardly anyone there at all.

Giant were the only big name there. No Trek, Specialized, Shimano, SRAM etc.. Giant had all their range there but to be honest couldn't really be bothered looking at them. From memory previous ones I've been to SRAM / Shimano have had stands with all their groupsets etc. Swift Carbon / Mercury wheels had a reasonable display and I had a good look at the H SON Plus rim in both black and polished silver. Very very nice and I know what I'll be using for my next wheel build!

Handful or Chinese companies with ebikes and such. Waltly Tiantiam had a few display modesl that looked really nice, so one of the ibggest things I took away was my next bike is going to be custom Ti with H SON Plus rims!

Had a really good chat to the Endura guy. Bought a few things and he threw in quite a bit with some samples. Gave me some Endura Optimiser to try out for the Melbourne Marathon and I really liked it so went out and bought some yesterday so I guess he did his job.

Overall glad I went but if you missed it then you didn't miss much. I don't think I'll be busting a gut to get along next year as the past couple of years its been going downhill.

I dropped in late on Sunday arvo. A lot of the same vendors as last year were there ... it may be important for them to catch up with each other on the Friday, but there wasn't much new for the public at the weekend. A cheaper ($650?) version of that kind of Tacyx interactive trainer was on display, which caught my interest.

Selected exhibits from the private Farren collection of historical bikes was on show (they have a coffee table book for sale currently):

The Eagle company of Connecticut attempted a safer version of the Penny Farthing in 1889 - good luck mounting it!:

This extravagant hickory frame is courtesy of France during La Belle Age (1897). World War I was going to put a stop to all that optimistic thinking.

m@ wrote:I happened to be riding past on Saturday arvo so decided to go in on a whim. I found it pretty underwhelming to say the least; quite a few empty stalls and not a great deal going on in general.

TBH felt like I'd accidentally wandered into an industry conference an hour before it wrapped up... I guess the venue costs money, but TBH I'm not sure how they justify charging an entry fee

Bright Brewery did have a very good stall though.

I felt much the same - I usually expect to recoup my entry fee with swag. I managed to do that with magazines, but not much else going. I was le disappoint.

Thank you for the feedback. I may have been slightly spoiled for choice from big bike trade shows I have attended oveseas, including regional/city bike shows in Europe - This year a number of big name exhibitors were missing so I decided not to go. Last year the follow-ups or follow-through from my interaction with exhibitors very low. This is something I experience from the Aussie bike shows whereas overseas the connections made are lasting and there are followups and responses.

Running a bike show in Aus is tough - the vision is great however brands already have their dealer events and some customer events and the show is an added cost - brands/businesses exhibiting question how an expo provides a direct return on investment.

m@ wrote:not a great deal going on in general

That is actually pretty important - a show feels better when it is busy and you feel you have a lot of choice. While you don't have to check-out the bike-polo or bmx ramps, these create energy and when there are things going on and people moving - you feel like you have more out of it.

Probably the best approach - considering the Sydney Bike Show is a competitor (although very few exhbitors are at both shows) is the idea of alternating years between shows and a collaboration between the two organising bodies. This provides longer lead-in times to organise, puts a single event on the yearly schedule for bike brands and the unity should mean more exhibitors.

Check out BNA after this weekend - I will report on the Sydney Bike Show which takes place this weekend and in connection with a big ride - Spring Ride should draw in a lot more visitors than in previous years.